2024 Snow Australia Para FUTURES 

Overview:  

Snow Australia Para Futures is a Talent Identification (TID) initiative by Snow Australia with support from Paralympics Australia (PA) and Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA). The program seeks to provide opportunities for athletes with physical or visual impairments to discover and further explore the sports of Para Alpine and Para Snowboard.

Key Details:   

Dates 20th - 21st  July 2024 

Location: Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre & Perisher Resort

Cost: $0 (for eligible athletes) 

Program aims:

• Introduce developing Para athletes to Para sporting opportunities and elite sportspeople
• Increase knowledge of the athlete pathway, selection criteria and the various opportunities and resources available to Australian Para snow sports athletes
• Engage National Team athletes in pathway development initiatives
• Encourage involvement in Snow Australia’s domestic ski/snowboard events
• Bridge the gap between Interschools participation and involvement in seasonal Snow Australia Pathway Programs
• National Classification opportunity for Para-athletes new to Para snowsports.

How to sign up:

Click here and complete the application form. Applicants are encouraged to submit video footage to support their registration to Snow Australia Pathway Development Coach- Tom Hodges - thodges@snow.org.au

Registration requires Snow Austalia membership. Please select Snow Racer for FREE Snow Australia membership here www.snow.org.au/membership/. 

Applicants interested in the National Classification opportunity will be required to download, complete and submit a Snowsport Classification Expression of Interest form along with supporting medical documentation as part of their registration (applicable to participants with a physical impairment).

This should be sent via email to Tom Hodges- thodges@snow.org.au (1 month prior to the event- by the 20th of June 2024)

Snow Australia Para FUTURES – Program Details

Eligibility:

Alpine and Para Snowboard athletes with a physical or visual impairment aged 12 and above.

This may include a variety of impairments including but not limited to visual impairments, paraplegic or wheel-chair users, amputees of any limb whether they are standing or using seated equipment, Cerebral Palsy and hemiplegia. This range of impairments is built around current classifiable impairments under Paralympic winter sport.

Criteria for participation include, but are not limited to;

• Having a National Provisional Classification or evidence to suggest participant will be eligible for Paralympic sport.

• Previous sports history in relevant sports such as skateboarding, water skiing or surfing.
• Previous high-performance sports experience (for talent transfer candidates).
• Demonstration of required skills (through video or otherwise).
• Age 12 and above

High-level technical ability is not a prerequisite, however, safety for the individual and group is always the priority. Basic skiing/riding proficiency and independence must be present in all participants, ie participants must be able to ski/ride down a blue run independently (with the assistance of a guide for visually impaired athletes) and they must be able to load and unload lifts independently.

Non - Eligible Athletes

Athletes with cognitive, and intellectual disabilities, and those with hearing loss are not eligible. This is because these impairments are not classifiable under Paralympic snow sport. These athletes are encouraged instead to contact Disabled Winterport Australia or Special Olympics and engage in their snow sports programs.

Classification:

National Classification will be offered as part of the program for athletes with a physical impairment. This will include on and off-hill assessment. Athletes with a vision impairment are encouraged to arrange National Classification through the Paralympics Australia here:

www.paralympic.org.au/vi-request-for-classification

Snow Australia Para Futures Schedule: 

Full Para Futures schedule to be published in the week before the program

Places for Snow Australia Para Futures are limited. Each registration will be reviewed and notified of endorsement prior to the camp.